The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-09
THAT TIMBER CLAIM MURDER.
Further Particulars of the Killing OF Two
Women in Dakota.

h"o
Women i'm Dakota.
HURON. OAK. June Ga frightful
series of murders have occurred in this
county to-day. Simon s. Nelson came
to Beadle County i'm July, 1879, and took
up land south of Cavour, and lived there
three years. He was regarded as law
abiding citizen, although of strong pas
sions. He was of average intelligence
and was hard worker. He was one of
the first commissioners of Beadle County,
and served three years.
Five years ago, when il was announc-
ed that what are known To be the Cam
eron claims were thrown open to settle
ment, Nelson took up one of these
claims. Mrs. Flora +. Shaw, "A widow,
with her sister, Miss Alice T.. Lyman,
from Geauga County, o., came TO Huron
i'm April, 1882, and Immediately filed on
the quarter section of land which Neil
son had put some kind of filing on,
but it was reported that Nelson had
land covered up under fictitious names
and they, seeing that he did not live ON
the claim, built their house and moved
into it. With Mrs. Shaw was her son
Corwin, twenty-one years old. One or
two years after this Nelson moved on to
the land. The son Corwin lived In fear
of him and did nothing to offend him.
When the case came up for trial the
Huron land officers decided in favor OF
Nelson. 1t was then carried up to the
Commissioner and finally to the Secre-
tary of the Interior, both of whom gave
the land to Mrs. Shaw. II was supposed
that the case was ended. As Nelson did
not leave the premises the District Court
was appealed to and issued an order for
him to vacate. This was disobeyed. The
attorney for Mrs. Shaw got an order
from Judge Spencer last week for Neil
son to show cause why he should not be
punished for contempt of court. Friday,
when young Shaw attempted to work
on the land, Nelson took Winchester
rifle and threatened 10 shoot him IL lac
did not leave, which he did.
This morning f. c. Lyman. brother
of Mrs. Shaw and Miss Lyman; Corwin
Shaw, the two ladies, and j. A. Kelsey,
a neighbor, went to the field to work.
Lyman and Shaw began plowing. The
women remained at the edge Of the field,
Kelsey had been threatened with death
| by Nelson. When Corwin had plowed
across the field, with Lyman just be-
| hind him, and had turned To make
another furrow, Nelson came out with
| Winchester rifle and shot at Lyman,
who dashed behind his horses and was
not hit. Lyman called TO all
run for your lives"
Corwin ran, but fell dead, shot through
the heart, the ball entering his back.
Nelson fired at Kelsey, who also fell
shot through the right lung and one
kidney, and Nelson supposed him dead.
By this time the murderer had got M
to the two women, who stopped and
faced him. Lyman says that Nathan
then came up to the women, talked u
them, reloaded his gun and then delib
erately shot each Of them 10 death
When Miss Lyman was shot she wa
seen by her brother To be kneeling be
fore Nelson pleading for her life. but h.
| KNEW no uirh's' iS put tiis hiuZzis VI tH'
Winchester close TO her face and pullet
the trigger. The ball entered her lef
temple. He then pulled out his knif'
and stabbed her in the left breast. Nell
son went home and said to his wife;
There's three less of them"
Then he went outside and shot himsel
through the head, dying instantly. kel
sey died this evening.